March 23, 2009

I say that now, but as someone who's known me for 25 years, I'm fairly certain that I'd find something to gripe about. That's just how I roll.A few weeks ago, I was contacted by Oh! Nuts, a fabulous company offering everything from nuts (duh) to dried fruit to coffee and more. They were kind enough to send me some of their goods to sample and evaluate. I received some cherry rock candy and ice cream sundae malted milk balls, both of which made fantastic noshes. They also sent some cinnamon almonds (they know me without even knowing me!), dried apple slices (more on these items later), and macadamia nuts.

The macadamias are spectacular. First of all, they're massive. Gigantic. Gargantuan. Further, they're already shelled, salted, and roasted, so the work has already been done--all you have to do is chew!

I wanted to use a few of them in a dessert and, feeling a bit despondent about this weather, I had as close to an epiphany as I ever come--a tropical version of Hello Dollies. Instead of walnuts or pecans, I used the macadamias, and instead of chocolate chips, I went with white chocolate (I'm not sure what's island-like about white chocolate, but let's just go with it, okey-dokey?). I kept the coconut and tossed in some dried banana too, just to carry on with the tropical theme.

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.Combine the melted butter and graham cracker crumbs and place in a 8x8" baking dish, patting the mixture down evenly with your hands. Sprinkle on the white chocolate chips, coconut, macadamia nuts, and banana pieces on top of the crumb mixture. Pour the sweetened condensed milk evenly over the entire mixture.Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the top is light brown. Let cool completely before slicing.

I'm dying for a little bit of tropical weather too! The name is so cute and I bet that they taste fantastic. Coconut and white chocolate is such a great combination and I bet that the saltiness of the macadamia nuts is delicious with all of that sweetness.

Grace.... As I am just down the road a bit from you, I SO second your opinion about this blasted weather! I think that these bars are the perfect answer though! Here's hoping that we get some nice weather to stick around for awhile!

You and me both, sistah. Even with the sunshine, it's just. so. cold. Ugh.

And I'm with you--it's time to start eating stuff that puts one in the mind of warmer weather until it finally arrives. I'm so sick of root vegetables. Forget local, I'm getting imported lettuce and zucchini, baby!

Macadamias are a real pleasure snack in my world... sooooo delicious! This recipe looks like a great use of them, too. Yummy!

those are gorgeous macadamias! how funny that my latest post is with macadamia too (more classic though, less imaginative than yours :o)... come to Florida, then you'll be hot the whole year round - in more ways than one *wink* :oD

I may have to stop reading your blog because everyday it's something else that I love and absolutely have to make...and consume immediately. I'm working on polishing off a batch of pecan pie muffins. These will be next!